Wrightbus delivers hydrogen buses to Saarbahn as part of €24 million German investment

Erhan Eren, Wrightbus Managing Director Europe officially handed over the key to Lord Mayor Uwe Conradt, Minister Petra Berg and Saarbahn Managing Director Karsten Nagel. Image: © Saarbahn/Andreas Schlichter

Northern Ireland zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus has delivered the first five of 28 hydrogen-powered buses to German transport operator Saarbahn, reinforcing its position as a leader in clean public transport solutions across Europe.

The delivery of the Kite Hydroliner single-deck buses marks the beginning of a major €24 million project aimed at decarbonising Saarbahn’s fleet.

The investment, co-funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) through the “Directive for the promotion of alternative drive systems for buses in passenger transport”, includes €11.1 million in federal support.

A new hydrogen filling station is also being built on the Saarbahn depot grounds as part of the initiative.

The five vehicles, built at Wrightbus HQ in Ballymena, are expected to enter regular passenger service this summer, with the full order of 28 buses anticipated to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions.

Once in full operation, the hydrogen fleet is projected to save around 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually compared to diesel alternatives.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, expressed enthusiasm about the project, calling it a pivotal moment in the company’s European journey.

“Wrightbus is at the forefront of zero-emission technology both in hydrogen and EV buses, so we are delighted to be growing our presence in Germany,” he said.

“We have built up an excellent partnership and cooperation with Saarbahn and we know these buses will have a significant positive impact on the region’s roads, benefitting the environment and ensuring that people in the region breathe better air.

“I would like to sincerely thank their team for working with us so closely on this project, while also acknowledging our own excellent engineers and designers in Northern Ireland, the production teams, product development and the sales and service teams. We can all be very proud of the Kite Hydroliner.”

Karsten Nagel, Managing Director of Saarbahn, also praised the new fleet, emphasising their operational suitability:

“The hydrogen buses fulfil two particularly important criteria for us. These are a long range and short refuelling times. Unlike previous electric buses, we can easily use the hydrogen buses in our scheduled bus service system, which operates for up to 300 kilometres non-stop a day. But we also see battery buses as a possible future alternative.”

Wrightbus Expands Presence in Europe

The Saarbahn delivery follows a previous shipment of 12 Kite Hydroliners to another German operator, WestVerkehr GmbH, bringing Wrightbus’s total number of hydrogen buses in Germany to 48. That figure is expected to rise to approximately 130 by the end of 2025.

In support of its growing European customer base, Wrightbus has also launched a dedicated European service centre in Brühl, near Cologne. Operating under the AllServiceOne brand, the facility provides expert maintenance and servicing for buses from all manufacturers, regardless of drive type.

“Under the AllServiceOne brand, our team of experts maintains and services all types of buses here in the heart of Europe,” added Mr Gales. “This includes those from other manufacturers and with different drive types.”

The Brühl centre also features a spare parts warehouse and represents the first phase in Wrightbus’s plan to build a continent-wide support network modelled after its successful UK infrastructure.

The Kite Hydroliner: A Zero-Emission Workhorse

Wrightbus’s Kite Hydroliner FCEV boasts a range of up to 1,000 kilometres and can be refuelled in under 10 minutes, making it an ideal solution for long-distance routes and high-frequency urban operations. The single-deck design can accommodate up to 90 passengers, combining sustainability with practicality.

As demand for zero-emission transport grows across Europe, Wrightbus’s latest delivery to Saarbahn underscores the Northern Ireland’s role in the global clean transport movement.